thinking_depth_ladder
AI agents call thinking_depth_ladder to retrieve information from CBT Agent Helper without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Even though thinking_depth_ladder only reads data, uncontrolled read access leaks sensitive information and racks up API costs — an agent caught in a retry loop can make thousands of calls a minute without anyone noticing.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
thinking_depth_ladder. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CBT Agent Helper MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the CBT Agent Helper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for thinking_depth_ladder: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches CBT Agent Helper. Nothing to install.
thinking_depth_ladder is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the thinking_depth_ladder rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for thinking_depth_ladder. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
thinking_depth_ladder is provided by the CBT Agent Helper MCP server (sundai-club/cbt-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.